Optimistic date (From The Oxford Times)

Optimistic date

8:00am Thursday 19th April 2012 in Letters

Sir — Mr Fawcett (Letters, April 5) was right to ask if the track vibration protection question in the Oxford-Marylebone rail link could not be settled around the table with Chiltern Railways.

The bats in the tunnel are all alive after all, so vibration and noise have now been resorted to as reasons to stop the Oxford–Bicester rail line from being upgraded.

Looking at the empty bay platform at Oxford station, the terminus looks ready to receive the new trains.

Why should an East-West rail line be any less strategic than the north-south lines running through Oxford?

Incidentally, your Oxfordshire Limited Edition magazine article about Kidlington (London Oxford) airport (also of April 5) tells us that Kidlington station is due to open in early 2013.

I assume the article actually refers to the proposed station at Water Eaton, on the Bicester line.

This would be an excellent interchange point for airport buses to access the London Marylebone rail link.

However, the completion date for the Water Eaton station unfortunately looks too optimistic.

As Mr Clarke (Letters, April 5) would like improved cycle access to Oxford station, modern technology should be able to add a cycle track under the railway without enormous cost or delay.

Perhaps some cycle parking facility and a ticket office on the west side of the railway station would help cater for those arriving from that side of Oxford?

David Eldridge, (Research Officer — Railfuture, Thames Valley Branch)